Chelsea hammered the Slovenians 6-0 at Stamford Bridge just two weeks ago and Mourinho urged his side to do the same again to help secure top spot in the group.

But the Blues turned in a below-par performance, and looked set for their first defeat of the season until Nemanja Matic's 73rd minute goal.

Boss Mourinho was clearly far from happy with his team's display and was left fuming even more when Eden Hazard's woeful penalty six minutes from time prevented them from grabbing an undeserved win.

Chelsea went into the game looking to equal their best ever start to a season, of 16 games without defeat, set under Mourinho in 2005-06.

Mourinho's team hammered the Slovenians 6-0 at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago, and though this was their second ever Champions League campaign, Maribor had never won at home in the competition at the Ljudski vrt Stadium.

Chelsea though knew that a Bonfire Night victory in Slovenia couple with a failure of Schalke to beat Sporting Lisbon would mean qualification for the knockout stages.

LATE: Nemanja Matic hit home John Terry's header to get Chelsea level [GETTY]

But a fourth game in 11 days appeared to have taken its toll on Mourinho's side -

or perhaps they had one eye on the crunch Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.

The Blues boss cannot be accused of the same thing, going with a strong starting line-up including Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic.

Fabregas almost set up an early goal when he got to the byline and chipped into the box where young defender Kurt Zouma connected with a header but angled it just wide of the post.

Then Didier Drogba's shot took a deflection but goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic saved.

Maribor came back strongly and gave Chelsea a mighty scare as the Blues were caught napping at the back.

Marcos Tavares broke away and when the ball fell to Sintayehu Sallalich it needed a last-gasp saving clearance from Zouma to prevent the opening goal.

Maribor had been annihilated in the first half at Stamford Bridge, going in 3-0 down at the interval, but the Slovenians looked far more resilient on their own turf.

MIXED: Eden Hazard was Chelsea's best player but missed a penalty late on [GETTY]

Chelsea may have thought it was going to be another stroll in the park, but they struggled to find any rhythm - causing Mourinho to come out of his dug-out with a dark look on his face.

His mood wasn't improved much when Andre Schurrle missed an open goal from just six yards - with the German midfielder's blushes not really saved by the fact the linesman's flag went up.

Drogba tried his luck from long-range with a free-kick that stung the hands of Handanovic, but Chelsea's sloppy passing prevented them from crafting any decent chances from open play before the break.

It got worse for the Blues right at the start of the second-half as Agim Ibraimi produced a moment of individual brilliance.

He controlled the ball on the edge of the box, composed himself and then curled a stunning shot into the corner of the net.

Petr Cech had absolutely no chance as he was left grasping for air - while Mourinho's expression got even more severe.

He may have exploded with rage on the hour mark had Luka Zahovic converted with the goal at his mercy to make it 2-0.